Elements in both India and Pakistan would like the ongoing talks between the two countries to be derailed. It would be highly unfortunate if they were allowed to have their way. The BJP has all along been cautioning Manmohan Singh against India holding talks with Pakistan as, according to the Hindu nationalist party, the ISI was working “in close coordination” with terror groups. The BJP first raised the bogey of Chicago trial to put a new spanner in the works but when Tahawwur Rana’s alleged involvement in Mumbai attacks could not be proved, the BJP blamed New Delhi for not “ensuring” that the prosecuting agencies in US pursued the case “properly.” The Chicago court decision was declared a “joint game-plan of the United States and Pakistan” by a frustrated Narendra Modi.
There is no shortage of India-baiters in Pakistan either. The media is abuzz with stories regarding New Delhi being bent upon wrecking the talks by raising extraneous issues like the trial of the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks. A reactionary section of the media is totally opposed to the talks as, according to it, these amount to the betrayal of the Kashmiri people. The incident of an Indian navy ship having conducted risky maneuvers as PNS Babur escorted MV Suez to safety is now casting a shadow over the talks. It must not be allowed to be blown out of proportion.
Both Pakistan and India need to replace hostility with understanding which can facilitate friendship so that both countries can be able to cope with the economic, social and security challenges that confront them. It would be unwise on the part of India to try to postpone addressing the vital issues on any pretext. The disputes between the two countries have to be taken up with a positive spirit. While in Kazakhstan to attend the SCO moot, Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had told the media that India and Pakistan should be looking to the future rather than dwelling on what had happened in the past. One expects that India would walk the talk when the foreign secretaries of the two countries meet on June 23 and 24.
